Submersible motor



July 30, 1946. c. .L BLOM SUBMERSIBLE MOTOR Filed Aug. 1, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Juy '30, 1946.,

c. J. BWM 2,464,73

SUBMERSIBLE MOTOR Filed'Aug. 1, -1944 3 sheets-sheet 2 July 3o, 1946. c. J. BLbM SUBMERSIBLE MOTQR Filed Aug. l, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented July 30, Y1946 SUBMERSIBLE MOTOR Carl J. Blom, San Marino, Calif., assignor to Byron Jackson Co., Vernon, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Application August 1, 1944, Serial No. 547,617

(Cl. 10S-87) 15 Claims. 1

This invention relates to submersible electric motors and more particularly to combined motor and pump units, although certain features of the present invention are useful on submersible motors which are used for purposes other than the operation of pumps.

The term submersible as used herein means that the motor is surrounded by a fluid, either liquid, gas or air, which is excluded from access to the interior of the motor.

The present invention relates to those types of submersible motors or motor pumps having means for maintaining a pressure inside the motor which is at all times equal to or higher than the submergence pressure. If the invention is applied to a motor-pump unit, the pressure inside the motor is preferably maintained as high or higher than the suction pressure and, if the discharge pressure is in communication with the motor shaft seal, the pressure in the motor is maintained as high or higher than the discharge pressure.

'I'he present invention relates particularly to submersible electric motors of the type having a so-called mechanical seal, as distinguished from so-called liquid seals or common stuffing boxes. An example of a submersible motor having a mechanical seal (or common stuffing box) is shown in U. S. Patent No. 2,002,913, issued May 28, 1935, to Mendenhall and Van Horn. An example of a submersible electric motor having a 3 liquid seal may be seen in U. S. Patent No. 2,002,- 914, issued May 28, 1935, to Mendenhall and Van Horn.

Liquid seals, as presently constructed, can be used only in a vertical position and consequently are not suitable for certain types of service, for example, in salvage type pumps which may have to operate in any position from vertical to horizontal. Nor are liquid seals suitable where there is a material pressure difference across the seal, since such a pressure would displace the liquid from the seal.

Mechanical seals may be of the single or double type. The present invention relates to the double type of seal. Double mechanical seals may have the two seals directly adjacent each other, as illustrated in Patent No. 2,002,913, or the two seals may be separated as shown in U. S. Patent No. 2,320,708, issued June 1, 1943, to Lloyd Yost.

Double mechanical seals not only provide double resistance to leakage but they also permit the use of a higher pressure for sealing than exists in the motor or pump.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a submersible motor having an oil-filled motor compartment and a mechanically sealed oil-filled seal chamber, wherein means are provided to maintain substantially equal pressure between the motor compartment and seal chamber even though the fluid volume change in the seal chamber is substantial.

Another object is to provide an oil-filled submersible motor which is capable of continuous or intermittent operation over extremely long periods of time Without contamination of the oil in the motor by the uid being pumped.

Another object is to provide an oil-filled submersible motor and pump which is capable of operating dry for an appreciable interval, thereby providing a motor and pump which is particularly suitable for use as a bilge pump or similar use.

With the above and other objects in view as may appear hereinafter, reference is directed to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a substantially diagrammatical View of one form of submersible electric motor pump, wherein the oil in the motor is maintained under substantially constant air pressure;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view thereof through 2-2 of Fig. 1, showing one arrangement of pressure equalizing bellows and mechanical seal;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View through 3-3 of Fig. 2, illustrating in detail the construction of the bellows employed;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View through 4-4 of Fig. 2, illustrating the mechanical seal arrangement in detail;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view similar to Fig. 2, of a modified form of submersible electric motor pump particularly suitable for pumps of small diameter;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of the head structure only of another modified form of oil-filled submersible electric motor pump wherein a sealed air chamber within the motor compensates for changes in the volume of the oil;

Fig. 7 is another fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of a further modified form of submersible electric motor pump wherein only a small portion of the pumped iiuid is employed to cool the motor, and an air pressure tank for maintaining pressure on the lubricant fluid is arranged in a jacket surrounding the motor;

Fig. 8 illustrates diagrammatically another arrangement of a seal chamber having double mechanical seals wherein sealing bellows are employed between the seal chamber and the exposed end of the shaft.

Reference is made first to the structure shown n) in Figs. l, 2, 3 and fi. An cuter shell l is fitted at its lower end with a pump intake structure 2 and is connected at its upper end to a head structure The head structure includes a reducer fitting d for connection to a casing or pipe C. The head structure also includes a motor head located within the reducer fitting and adapted to suspend a motor case 5 within the outer shell l. The motor head li journals a shaft l by an upper bearing S. Above the upper bearing the motor head 5 forms an upper protective fluid chamber s isolated from the reducer fitting or shell il. The protective fluid may be any fluid having, primarily, dielectric properties sufheient to prevent shorting of the motor windings; it may also have lubrication properties. Various oils, or oil-like fluids similar to transformer found suitable. I-lence, for convenience, the protective fluid may be hereinafter referred to as Kol! The upper end of the oil chamber Q forms a shelf lil located at one side of the smaller end of the reducer fitting. A terminal element ll forming the end of a conductor cable l2 is fastened into the shelf ffl so that the conductor may be brought inte the oil chamber and through the motor head into the motor case i5. An oil line i3 which may be incorporated in the conductor cable or constitute a separate line, is provided with a fitting fer attachment to the shelf ffl so that the oil line communicates with the interior of the upper oil chamber 9.

A motor chamber ifi is provided within the motor case and theelements of an electric motor including the field coils l5 and the armature (not shown) are arranged therein. An oil circulating pump f6 may be provided von the shaft l' for the purpose of circulating oil in one direction through the motor chamber, and in the opposite direction through oil jacket Sa incorporated in the motor case e.

The lower end of the motor case is closed by a seal chamber housing fl which defines a sealed chamber f8. The shaft 'a' extends through the seal chamber and its protruding end is provided wl h a pump rotor lf3 which draws fluid from the pump intake 2 and discharges it into a fluid passage 2Q formed between the seal chamber housing l?, motor case 5, and outer shell l.

It is preferred te arrange the pump rotor l@ in such a manner that a low pressure chamber lea is provided between the pump rotor and the under side of the seal chamber housing l?.

A seal unit 2l is provided around the shaft l te isolate the seal chamber` from the motor chamber. A similar seal unit 22 is provided around the shaft l to isolate the seal chamber from the low pressure chamber E9e and from the pumped fiuid. The seal units comprise respectively fixed rings 23 and 23a secured to a wall of the seal chamber and rotating rings Zl and Ella mounted on the shaft l within the seal chamber as shown best in Figure 4.

The fixed seal rings Z3 and 23a arey preferably backed or seated on resilient rings 2E formed of rubber, synthetic rubber, leather or suitable material which are fitted in the wall of the seal chamber. The rotating rings are backed by flexible seal rings 26 of material similar to the resilent rings 2&3. The resilient rings 25 and the oil have been y seal rings 25 form the double function of first,

ifi and the shaft 'l respectively; and'secondly,

permitting limited wobble adjustment of the rings d. 23 and 2d to effect perfect mating between their confronting sealing surfaces.

A spring 'J is interposed between the seal rings 2G to urge the rotating rings 2d and Zeta against their respective fixed rings 23 and 23a. The seal units 2i and 22 are, in effect, check valves which open from the motor chamber lil and the low pressure chamber 59a respectively, into the seal chamber if the external pressure is high enough to overcome the force of the spring 2l and the pressure of the fluid in the seal chamber against the rings 24.

It is desirable that the upper seal unit 2f open at a lesser pressure differential than the lower one; furthermore, it is desirable that the fixed seal rings 3 and 23a have no special fastening means to hold them in place, but instead be held against their respective resilient rings 25 by fiuid pressure. Both of these objectives are accomplished in the arrangement shown in Fig. el.

The fixed seal ring 23 of the lower seal unit .132 is provided with a flange exposed to the seal chamber and which constitutes a pressure face 2id. The pressure face Ela is equal to or greater than the lower end E8 of the lower fixed seal ring consequently, pressure in the seal chamber urges this ring against its seat. The bore of the lower fixed seal ring 23a is substantially the same as its mating rotating ring so that there is no appreciable pressure area subject te pressure in the chamber fsa and effective to raise the rotating ring.

One of the confronting sealing surfaces of the fixed or rotating ring of the upper seal unit is undercut adjacent the shaft 'l to form confronting pressure faces 29 and 2te. The effective area of these pressure faces exceeds the area of the upper end 3? of the upper fixed seal ring 23 so that the pressure in the motor chamber fil urges the upper fixed seal ring 23 into its seat. Furthermore, the pressure in the motor chamber is effective against the pressure face 29a of the rotating ringr te urge this ring downwardly against the spring El.

A pressure equalizing bellows 3l is provided in the seal chamber lll. As shown best in Fig, 3. the bellows 3l comprises a circular head member or plate 32, and a circular foot member or disc 33 connected by an annularly corrugated bellows shell 3ft. The head member 32 is suitably secured to a wall ofthe seal chamber housing ll preferably at the upper wall, by means of a hollow bolt 35 which extends through the upper wall cf the seal chamber housing into the motor chamber lll, se that oil or other dielectric liquid from the motor chamber may enter the bellows. The foot member 33 is provided with a stem 35 which is guided by a sleeve 'd'5 depending from the head member 32. A spring 33 tends to expand the bellows so that normally the bellows occupies an extended position as shown in Fig. 2.

rl'he conductor cable i2 and oil line I3 extend upwardly along the casing C and into a control unit l. Within the control unit il is an oil reservoir i2 with which the oil line f3 communi Cates. The reservoir may be located at an elevation high enough above the motor so that the internal oil pressure in the motor will always exceed the submerged pressure, that is, the pressure at the pump rotor, particularly the low pressure chamber lea, whether the motor is running or idle. This is not, however, always convenient, and where the elevation of the reservoir gives insufficient head on the oil in the motor, additional pressure may be provided. As shown in Fig. l,

this is accomplished by an air or gas compartment 43 in the reservoir 42 above the oil level. The air` or gas pressure in compartment 43 may be built up by means of a compressor or by a hand-pump (not shown) through a check Valve 44. The reservoir is preferably provided with a pressure gauge 45 and an oil level gauge 45. Also contained in the control cabinet for convenience, is a motor starter 41, a fuse-box 48, a starter switch 49, and the end xture or terminal 50 for the cable I2.

By means of the reservoir 42 the pressure of the oil within the motor chamber I4 is maintained substantially constant at all times, Whether the motor is running or idle and whether the oil is hot or cold. The seal chamber I8 does not have any means of escape, so that its pressure could not equalize were it not for the bellows 3l. The crux of the present invention lies in the arrangement of the seal chamber housing I'I, mechanical seal units 2| and 22, and the bellows 3I in association with the oil-filled motor and the pump or other device driven thereby. It should be pointed out that a submersible pump of the type herein illustrated, is more often than not located in a most inaccessible place. t is not convenient or feasible to inspect it frequently. Often it is employed to pump water, even salt water or contaminated material, a small quantity of which would, if it entered the motor, cause the motor to burn ont. Thus the seal chamber must exclude such deleterious fluids from the motor under a wide range of conditions. 1t must exclude when the motor is idle, when it is running, when it is heating up, and when it is cooling. It must safeguard the motor under abnormal conditions, for example, when the pump runs dry, or under other conditions where excessive heating occurs.

The bellows functions principally during the warming up period of the motor. pressures in the motor chamber and the seal chamber are equal and exceed the hydrostatic head or discharge head, or the suction head of the pump, whichever pressure exists in the chamber ISa. During the warming up period, the pressure in the motor chamber does not rise because the heated and expanded dielectric fluid escapes either through the tube I 3 or compresses the compensating bellows 13 in Fig. 6.

The dielectric nuid in the seal chamber as it heats, has no means of escape, for if it discharged int-o the motor chamber the utility of the seal chamber would be materially lessened. Instead, the expanding iiuid in the seal chamber compresses the bellows to some intermediate position. The bellows may remain in such position during running of the motor, or may expand slightly should there be slight leakage out the lower seal unit 22 or i2. When the pump is stopped and the dielectric fluid cools, the bellows expands to its extended position. if any fluid from the seal chamber has seeped out, and the bellows expands to its full position before the fluid has reached its lowest temperature, the pressure in the seal chamber drops slightly below the motor chamber, causing additional iiuid to enter through the upper seal unit 2|, and compensate for the loss.

This function of the bellows in conjunction with mechanical seal units is of primary importance. It makes possible maintenance of the proper pressure between the sealing faces of the seal rings. If this pressure is too low, the seal is not effective; if too high, excessive wear and scoring take place. Any scoring of the seal faces Initially the is very detrimental, and hence it is of the utmost importance that the pressure between the seal faces be maintained at all times vbelow a predetermined maximum.

In the constructions hereinafter described, the bellows and seal arrangement is essentially the same as that shown in Figs. 2, 3 and ll, but shown in association with different types of submersible motors.

Attention is now directed to Fig. 5. The construction herein shown is particularly adapted where the diameter of the submersible pump must be held to a minimum. In such cases where the diameter is limited, there is insuicient space in the seal chamber for the bellows. As in the first described arrangement, a head structure 5I is provided, which is secured to the outer shell I. The head structure includes a reducer fitting 52 for connecting the outer shell I to a discharge pipe or casing, The head structure also includes a motor head 53 located within the reducer fitting 52, which is attached to the motor case t. Above the motor head the head structure 5I is divided into an oil chamber 54 and bellows chamber 55 isolated from the pumped fluid passage through the reducer tting. The oil chamber and bellows chamber are separated by a partition 56. Aligned laterally directed openings are provided in the partition 55 and opposite wall of the oil chamber 54. These openings are closed by cover plates 5'5 and 58. Between the cover plates, that is, in the oil chamber 54, is a terminal block 59 which affords a means 0f connecting the conductor cable I2 with the electric motor contained in the motor case.

Within the bellows chamber 55 is an equalizer bellows 60 which performs the same function as the equalizer bellows SI. The bellows 68 includes an end disc 0r member 6I which is connected with the cover plate 58 by an annularly corrugated bellows shell 62. Stops 58a and @la extending from the cover plate 58 and end member 6I, respectively, limit collapsing movement of the bellows. A spring 63 urges the bellows to its extended position. A port 64- communicates between the interior of the bellows and the oil chamber 54. The bellows chamber 55 communicates with a seal chamber housing 55 corresponding to the seal chamber housing I'I of Fig. 2, through an oil tube 65. The seal chamber housing 65 defines a seal chamber S'I which is similar to the seal chamber I8, but is by reason of space limitation, too small to accommodate the equalizer bellows. The mechanical seal units 2I and 22 may be identical or similar to those shown in the rst described structure. Also, as in the first described structure, an oil line i3 communicates between a reservoir 42 and the oil chamber 54, so that the oil pressure in the oil chamber and motor chamber is maintained constant.

The construction shown in Fig. 6 is designed to eliminate the oil line I3. Only the head portion is shown as the seal chamber and associated parts may be identical with that shown in Fig. 2. In this construction a head structure l is provided which may be similar to the head structure 3 or 5I, with the exception that an enlarged oil chamber I2 is substituted for the oil chamber 9 or 54, as the case may be. Within the enlarged oil chamber I2 is a volume compensating bellows 73, the interior of which is completely sealed and contains air or gas at atmospheric pressure or at some predetermined higher pressure. The bellows includes a base ring I4 attached to a wall of the oil 'chamber 'I2 in sealing relation therewith, a

foot disc 'l5 and an annularly corrugated bellows shell connecting the base ring and foot disc. A springr 'Vf urges the bellows to its extended position, and stops 'i8 and l limit collapsing movement of the bellows. The spring and the internal pressure of the gas sealed in the bellows it, is such that a predetermined pressure can be maintained in the motor chamber and oil chamber. As the oil expands due to heating, the beliows f3 compresses to compensate for the increased volume of oil.

Reference is now directed to the construction shown in Fig. 7. As has been pointed out hereinbefore, the submersible motor herein contemplated, is a motor which is surrounded by fluid either liquid, gas or air, which fluid is excluded from access to the interior of the motor. Thus while in the previously described structures, the motor is actually immersed in the liquid being pumped, the construction shown in Fig. 7 is directed to a motor which is not immersed in the pumped liquid except insofar as a portion of such liquid is used as a cooling medium owing in a jacket surrounding the motor.

In the construction shown in Fig. '7, a pump housing 8l is provided in whichis mounted apump impeller 82. The pump housing defines an intake chamber Bla communicating With the intake side of the impeller 82, and a discharge chamber or volute Sib adapted to receive the pumped fluid from the impeller. The impeller is mounted on the shaft l as in the rst described structure. The pump housing il supports a seal chamber housing 83 which defines a seal chamber 84 similar to the seal chamber I8. A motor housing or case 85 is mounted on the seal chamber housing 83, and contains a motor structure which may be similar to that shown in Fig. 2. A motor head 86 is provided, which defines an oil chamber 8l. ing and seal chamber housing, and forms therewith an annular space 88a for the circulation of a portion of the pumped fluid foi cooling the motor.

The pumped fluid used to cool the motor is obtained from the discharge chamber 81h. The upper side of the impeller 82 is provided with an upwardly directed rim 3S. An orifice ring Sil secured to the under side of the seal chamber housing 83 defines with the rim 89 an annular orice which communicates with the space 83a formed within the shell 88 through inlet passages 99. The upper end of the shell 88 is provided with an outlet 532.

The shell 88 is surrounded 'by an oil jacket 93. An oil pipe Q4 communicates between the bottom of the oil jacket and the motor head 35. The oil jacket is equipped with an air supply valve 95 for the purpose of introducing air under pressure. The jacket is, of course, provided with a suitable liquid level gauge and pressure gauge (not shown). The oil jacket has a relatively large volume so that the liquid level can raise and lower as the oil within the motor is heated or cooled without appreciably changing the pressure. This pressure is, of course, maintained higher than at least the intake or suction pressure of the pump.

In the various constructions heretofore described, the mechanical seal units 2l and 22 have been shown. Certain modifications of the mechanical seal units are possible, and one is indicated diagrammatically in Fig. 8.

In the construction shown in Fig. 8, the upper seal unit 2l is the same as that previously dev An outer shell 88 jackets the motor housscribed. The spring 21, however, bears against a collar lill on the shaft l instead of the lower seal unit. The lower seal unit, in this case designated HB2, is mounted below the seal chamber. The seal chamber is provided with an adapter ring ID3 surrounding the shaft l. A bellows |04 depends from the adapter ring H33 and is closed at its lower end by a fixed that is, non-rotating ring m5. The non-rotating ring is urged downwardly by a spring l GS and fluid pressure in the seal chamber. A rotating ring |07 is attached to the shaft 'l and is engaged by the nonrotating ring.

Many other embodiments of the invention may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. An electric motor driven pump structure comprising: a motor chamber and a seal chamber at one end thereof, said chambers adapted to contain a dielectric liquid, a motor in said motor chamber, a shaft extending from said motor through said seal chamber to the exterior thereof, a pump impeller on the extended end of said shaft, mechanica-l seal units surrounding said shaft to isolate said seal chamber from liquid transfer along said shaft from the exterior or from said motor chamber, and a fiexible partition having one side exposed to said motor cham- -ber and its other side exposed to said seal chamber to compensate for changes in volume of the liquid in the seal chamber.

2. An electric motor driven pump structure comprising: a motor chamber and a seal chamber at one end thereof, said chambers adapted to contain a dielectric liquid, a motor in said motor chamber, a shaft extending from said motor through said seal chamber to the exterior thereof, a pump impeller `on the extended end of said shaft, mechanical seal units surrounding said shaft to isolate said seal chamber from liquid transfer along said shaft from the exterior or from said motor chamber, means for subjecting the liquid in said motor chamber to a pressure at least equal to the external pressure exerted against said seal chamber at the region of emergence of said shaft, and a flexible partition having one side exposed to said motor chamber and its other side exposed to said seal chamber to compensate for changes in volume `of the liquid in the seal chamber.

3. An electric motor-driven pump comprising: a liquid filled motor chamber, a liquid filled seal chamber and having an inner Wall closing an end of said motor chamber and an outer wall exposed to the pumped fluid, a motor in said motor chamber having an impeller shaft extending lthrough the inner and outer walls of said seal chamber, sealing means between said shaft and the inner and outer walls of said seal chamber to isolate said seal chamber from said motor chamber and from the pumped uid, and a ilexible partition having one side exposed to said motor chamber and its other side exposed to said seal chamber to compensate for changes in volume of the liquid in said seal chamber.

4. A construction as set forth in claim 1, wherein each sealing means includes a fixed ring restrained against rotation and a rotating ring mounted on said shaft, said rings having mating surfaces forming a fluid-tight seal therebetween.

5. A construction as set forth in claim Wherein each sealing means includes a fixed ring restrained against rotation and a rotating ring slidably mounted on said shaft in sealed relation 92 therewith, said rotating ring being within said seal chamber and urged by the fluid pressure therein against said fixed ring, said rings having mating'surfaces forming a fluid-tight seal therebetween.

6. A construction as set forth in claim 1I wherein each sealing means includes a fixed ring restrained against rotation by seating engagement in a wall of said seal chamber, a rotating ring on said shaft within said seal chamber, and a spring urging said rotating ring against said fixed ring, said rings having mating surfaces forming a fluid-tight seal therebetween.

7. A constructionas set forth in claim 2, wherein each sealing means includes a iixed ring restrained against rotation by seating engagement in a wall of said seal chamber, a rotating ring on said shaft within said seal chamber, and a spring urging said rotating ring against said fixed ring, said rings having mating surfaces forming a fluid-tight seal therebetween.

8. In an electric motor driven pump structure wherein the electric motor is encased in a fluidtight case and the motor shaft protrudes from said case for connection to a pump impeller, the combination of: a seal chamber interposed between the motor case and the impeller; double mechanical seal elements surrounding said shaft and isolating said seal chamber from said motor case and from the region of said impeller; and a flexible partition having one side exposed to the interior of said motor case and its other side exposed to said seal chamber, and adapted to compensate for change in the volume cf a liquid lilling said seal chamber.

9. In an electric motor driven pump structure wherein the electric motor is encased in a iiuidtight case and the motor shaft protrudes from said case for connection to a pump impeller, the combination of: a seal chamber interposed between the motor case and the impeller, double mechanical seal elements surrounding said shaft and isolating said seal chamber from said motor case and from the region of said impeller, a flexible partition having one side exposed to the interior of said motor case and its other side exposed to said seal chamber and adapted to compensate for change in the volume of a dielectric liquid filling said seal chamber, said motor case likewise lled with said liquid; and means for maintaining the liquid in said motor case above the pressure externally of said seal chamber in the region of said shaft.

l0. In an electric motor driven pump structure wherein the electric motor is encased in a fluidtight case and the motor shaft protrudes from said case for connection to a pump impeller, the combination of a seal chamber interposed between the motor case and the impeller, double mechanical seal elements surrounding said shaft and isolating said seal chamber from said motor case and from the region of said impeller, said motor case and said seal chamber being lled with a dielectric fluid, means communicating with said motor case for maintaining a predetermined pressure on the fluid therein, and a flexible partition having one side exposed to said seal chamber and its other side exposed to said motor case and adapted to compensate for change in volume of the fluid within said seal chamber.

11. In an electric motor driven pump structure wherein the electric motor is encased in a iiuidtight case and the motor shaft protrudes from said case for connection to a pump impeller, the combination of a seal chamber interposed between the motor case and the impeller; a mechanical seal unit surrounding said shaft and isolating said seal chamber from said motor case and from the region of said impeller; at least said seal unit between said seal chamber and said motor case including a resilient cushion mounted in a wall of said seal chamber, a xed sealing ring seated on said cushion, a rotating sealing ring mounted on said shaft, a yieldable sealing ring backing said rotating ring, and a spring urging said rotating ring into sealing engagement with said xed ring, said rotating and fixed rings forming elements of a check valve capable of passing a fluid from said motor case into said seal chamber; and a flexible partition having one side exposed to iiuid in said motor case and its other side exposed to fluid in said seal chamber, and adapted to compensate for change in thc volume of fluid in said seal chamber.

12. In an electric motor driven pump structure wherein the electric motor is encased in a iiuidtight case and the motor shaft protrudes from said case for connection to a pump impeller, the combination of: a seal chamber interposed between the motor case and the impeller; a mechanical seal unit surrounding said shaft and isolating said seal chamber from said motor case and from the region of said impeller; at least said seal unit between said seal chamber and said motor case including a resilient cushion mounted in a wall of said seal chamber, a fixed sealing ring seated on said cushion, a rotating sealing ring mounted on said shaft, a yieldable sealing ring backing said rotating ring, and a spring urging said rotating ring into sealing engagement with said fixed ring, said sealing rings forming elements of a check valve capable of passing a fluid from said motor case into said seal chamber; a flexible partition having one side exposed to fluid in said motor case and its other side exposed to fluid in said seal chamber, and adapted to compensate for change in the volume of fluid in said seal chamber; and means for maintaining the fluid in said motor case above the pressure externally of said seal chamber in the region of said shaft.

13. In an electric motor driven pump structure wherein the electric motor is encased in a fluidtight case and the motor shaft protrudes from said case for connection to a pump impeller, the combination of: a seal chamber interposed between the motor case and the impeller; mechanical seal units surrounding said shaft and isolating said seal chamber from said motorcase and from the region of said impeller; at least one of said seal units between said seal chamber and said motor case including a resilient cushion mounted in a wall of said seal chamber, a fixed sealing ring seated on said cushion, a rotating sealing ring mounted on said shaft, a yieldable sealing ring backing said rotating ring, and a spring urging said rotating ring into sealing engagement with said xed ring, said sealing rings forming elements of a check valve capable of passing a uid from said motor case into said seal chamber; a flexible partition having one side exposed to a fluid in said motor` case and its other side exposed to a fluid in said seal chamber, and adapted t0 compensate for change in the volume of fluid in said seal chamber; and means communicating with said motor case for maintaining a predetermined pressure on the iiuid therein.

14. A construction as set forth in claim 8, wherein said seal elements include fixed and rotating seal rings having mating sealing faces, and,

ll; yieldable means urging said sealing rings into sealing contact, at least one of said seal elements forming a check Valve opening into said seal chamber.

15. In an electric motor driven pump structure wherein the electric motor is encased in a fluidtight case and the motor shaft protrudes from said case for connection to a pump impeller, the combination of: a seal chamber interposed between the motor case and the impeller; a first mechanical seal unit for said shaft between said motor case and said seal chamber, a second men chanical seal unit for said shaft between said seal chamber and the region of said mpeller; each seal unit including a fixed and a rotating seal member having mating sealing surfaces and yieldable means urging said sealing members into engagement, said sealing members forming a check valve opening intoI said seal chamber, the sealing members of said rst seal unit having greater pressure areas effective to cause check valve operation than the sealing members of said second seal unit whereby said first seal unit opens at a lower pressure derential than said second seal unit; and a exible partition having one side exposed to the interior of said motor case and its other side exposed to said seal chamber, and adapted to compensate for change in the volume of a liquid lling said seal chamber.

CARL J. BLOM. 

